Jiang Yan hurriedly pretended to cough a few more times, but accidentally choked on his throat, unleashing a violent cough that made Princess Shou'an chuckle. The willow catkins outside the window seemed drawn to the lively atmosphere, fluttering in again and gently landing on Su Jinli's unfinished painting. The tip of the flying fox's tail happened to be stained with a bit of pearl powder that had fallen from the princess's hairpin, adding a touch of mystery to the lively fox.
Su Xiang, stroking his beard, watched this scene and couldn't help but laugh. He even secretly made a "you're smart" gesture to Jiang Yan. The fireplace in the bookstore was burning brightly, making the ink fragrance in the room even richer and warmer. Su Jinli looked at the people laughing and laughing in front of her, and she felt inexplicably moved. She suddenly felt that this originally awkward farce of pretending to be sick was like a sweet gift specially sent by God, allowing her to unexpectedly gain precious family love while working hard to run her business.
Princess Shou'an was tugging at her sleeve, clamoring like a cheerful little bird to see the painting of a fox catching ingots. Jiang Yan, on the couch, secretly fiddling with his abacus while no one was paying attention, muttering to himself as he calculated the cost of buying sugar paintings for the princess. Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, casting golden threads on the blue brick floor, casting everyone's shadows on it, weaving together a warm and beautiful scene of life.
Su Jinli suddenly understood that the Empress Dowager's arrangement wasn't meant to be a challenge, but rather, in a special way, offered her an opportunity to embrace greater warmth. The palace formalities she had once considered insurmountable, now transformed into the joyful laughter and sweetness of life in the bookshop. This atmosphere, like the warm sun in winter or the gentle breeze in summer, was warm and comfortable, intoxicating her and making her cherish everything she saw.
As time went by, Princess Shouan would often sneak out of the palace and go to Jinyun Bookstore to find Su Jinli. Every time she came, she would look around the bookstore like a curious little explorer, and everything in the bookstore was full of novelty and love.
Su Jinli would pause her work to patiently recount the sequel to "The Oil Seller" to Princess Shou'an, discussing the characters and plot with her. Princess Shou'an listened with rapt interest, alternately feeling distressed for the oil seller's plight and exulting in his good fortune. Jiang Yan, though still feigning illness, would occasionally chime in and share his perspectives.
During this process, Su Jinli discovered that Princess Shou'an also had a keen interest in painting. So, she began teaching her how to paint. Princess Shou'an was a diligent learner. Although her brushwork was immature, each stroke was imbued with childlike interest and imagination. Her paintings of foxes, rabbits, and other small animals, though diverse in form, were full of life, captivating the viewer.
Young Marquis Su would join them, imitating the heroes in the stories with his toy sword, performing a wonderful "martial arts scene" that made everyone laugh. Prime Minister Su would also visit the bookstore in his spare time, feeling very happy when he saw the children happily playing and learning.
As Princess Shou'an's relationship with the people at Jinyun Bookstore grew closer, the shop also added many new elements. To satisfy Princess Shou'an's love of stories, Su Jinli specially created a small corner, creating a cozy story corner. It was filled with a variety of exquisite picture books and storybooks, as well as soft cushions and pillows. Whenever Princess Shou'an visited, everyone would gather in the story corner to share interesting stories.
Jiang Yan, using his knowledge, created unique short stories for the Story Corner. These stories were not only educational but also entertaining, and were deeply loved by Princess Shou'an. He and Su Jinli would also adapt these stories into simple scripts for everyone to perform together. Princess Shou'an always rushed to play the leading role, and her earnest yet endearing performances often made everyone laugh.
In this bookshop filled with laughter and joy, the Queen Mother also sensed a unique atmosphere. Having heard that Princess Shou'an was enjoying herself there, she decided to attend their storytelling gathering in person. That day, the Queen Mother, dressed in casual clothes and accompanied by several of her personal maids, quietly arrived at Jinyun Bookshop.
When the Queen Mother entered the bookstore, she happened to see Princess Shou'an vividly recounting a story she had adapted in the story corner. Her face shone with confidence and joy, her eyes sparkling brightly. Su Jinli, Jiang Yan, Young Marquis Su, and the bookstore staff all gathered around her, listening with rapt attention.
The Queen Mother stood quietly by, watching this heartwarming scene with a pleased smile on her face. She didn't disturb the others, but quietly sat in a corner, immersed in this story full of childlike fun and joy with everyone. It wasn't until the story ended that Princess Shou'an noticed the Queen Mother's presence.
"Grandmother! Why are you here?" Princess Shou'an ran over in surprise and held the empress dowager's hand.
The Queen Mother smiled and patted her head, saying, "I heard you were having a great time here, so I wanted to come and see you. It's really full of life and energy here, much more interesting than the palace."
Su Jinli, Jiang Yan, and the others hurriedly bowed to the Queen Mother. The Queen Mother signaled that no formalities were necessary, saying, "Today, I am not here as the Queen Mother, but as an ordinary elder, to experience this joy."
Then, everyone began a new round of storytelling and performances. The Empress Dowager also joined in, recounting some anecdotes from the palace, giving everyone a different perspective on palace life. That day, Jinyun Bookstore was filled with laughter and joy, as people of all backgrounds gathered here and spent a wonderful time together.
Through this time together, a special bond has been established between Jinyun Bookstore, Princess Shou'an, and the Empress Dowager. This bond not only allows Princess Shou'an to experience the warmth and joy of family, but also allows Su Jinli and Jiang Yan to understand that the beauty of life often lies in these unforeseen moments. They will continue to write their own stories at Jinyun Bookstore, ensuring that this warmth and joy continue and become a legend in the capital.
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